Southern California -- this just in

Missing girl's remains identified after 44 years

The body of a 14-year-old girl who went missing in 1968 as she returned from school has been identified by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Elizabeth Ernstein was last seen one block from her house in Mentone while returning from school. Volunteers and sheriff's employees searched for the girl but were unable to find her.

In May, 44 years after the girl vanished, authorities received information that led them to believe that they had already recovered Ernstein's body from a shallow grave by Wrightwood but had not identified it, according to a coroner's report.

Investigators took DNA samples from Ernstein's brother and sister, who were tested by the California Department of Justice. The samples helped identify the body.

San Bernardino sheriff's officials did not respond to requests for comment.